Driving your US or Canadian car into Mexico means you need liability coverage from a Mexican insurer — your home policy does not satisfy Mexican law. What nobody spells out is that there are four different places to buy it, and the right one depends on your trip rather than on who advertises hardest. Timi is one of the four. Here is the full table, including the three situations where another option genuinely serves you better than we do.
| Traditional broker | Border drive-through | Online portal / aggregator | Timi | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How you quote | In person or by phone with an agent | You pull up and ask at the window | You fill a long form before seeing a price | By chat — a few questions, then the price |
| How long it takes | Hours to a day, depending on the agent | Minutes, if there is no line | 10 to 20 minutes of typing | About 3 minutes |
| Hours | Business hours, weekdays | Whatever the stand keeps; many close at night | 24/7 | 24/7, from your phone |
| Where you can do it | You go there or call | Right at the crossing, with the clock running | Anywhere | Anywhere, including in line at the border |
| See the price before giving your details | No — you talk to the agent first | Yes, at the window | Usually not: email and phone come first | Yes, the price comes before your contact details |
| Dealing with a person | Yes, and it is the main advantage | Yes, but briefly | Rarely | Assisted chat, with a human when it gets complicated |
| How you get the policy | Printed or mailed later | Printed on the spot | By email after the form | PDF by email instantly |
| Who issues it | Depends on the broker | Depends on the stand | Depends on the portal | Chubb, through Timi Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas, S.A. de C.V. |
- When you want to sit across from a person. Some drivers want to go through every coverage line with a broker they trust. A traditional broker does that better than any chat, and that is a fair reason to pick one.
- When you are already at the crossing with no signal or data. The drive-through stand exists precisely for that. We need your phone to be online.
- When it is not a regular passenger vehicle. Fleets, commercial cargo, passenger transport or heavily modified rigs are better handled by a broker who builds the policy by hand.
- When you want to pay cash. Timi charges to a card. If cash is what you have, the window at the border is your route.
When we are the practical choice
Timi makes sense when the trip is already happening and you do not want to lose half a day: weekend runs to Rocky Point or Baja, last-minute plans, one- or two-day coverage, or simply wanting the price before you hand over your phone number. It all happens in chat, with no forms, and the policy PDF arrives in minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is the drive-through stand at the border more expensive than buying online?
Not inherently — the price depends on the insurer and the coverage, not on the channel. What does change is the pressure: at the window you are choosing with a line of cars behind you and little room to compare deductibles calmly.
Can I buy the policy once I am already in line at the crossing?
Yes, as long as your phone has a signal. The policy starts on the date and time you choose when you buy it, so it can be issued minutes before you cross.
Does the "Mexico coverage" in my US policy count?
It usually does not meet the legal requirement. In most cases it is a limited extension covering damage to your own vehicle, not the Mexican liability coverage the law requires. Read the declarations page before assuming you are covered.
What is the real difference between an aggregator and buying direct?
An aggregator shows you several options in exchange for your details, and whoever sells you the policy is often a third party. Buying direct means one intermediary less but fewer options on screen. Neither is better by default — it depends on whether you value the range or the speed.